Sean Bean secured the evening's best actor (male) award for his turn in Accused II while his co-star Olivia Colman picked up the best actor (female) nod for her turn in the drama.

Bean emerged ahead of the challenges of Lennie James (Line of Duty) and Oliver Lansley (Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story) while Colman saw off Anne Marie Duff, who also worked in Accused II, and Sheridan Smith for her turn in Mrs Biggs.

Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the detective and Martin Freeman as his sidekick Doctor Watson, saw off stiff competition from Call the Midwife and Line of Duty to secure the evening's best drama series gong.

Good Cop, another show for the BBC, won the best drama serial plaudit, beating the ratings-winner Parade's End and Room At The Top to the podium.

Held annually, the RTS program awards aim to recognize the work of exceptional actors, presenters, writers and production teams, as well as celebrating the programs themselves.

Dished out at a black-tie event in central London Tuesday evening, one of the night's earliest prizes went to presenter Clare Balding for her work hosting the BBC's coverage of the London Olympics 2012, with the sporting jamboree winning the evening's live-event RTS crown, seeing off the London Paralympics 2012 and The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert programming.

This year's shindig was hosted by comedian, writer and actress Jo Brand.

In one of the evening's surprises Long Long Family (season 2) secured the popular factual and features award, rising above the ratings and critical hit The Great British Bake Off and the controversial northern town factual show Make Bradford British.

In total, programming on the BBC walked off with 18 of the 25 awards on offer.

The RTS is the oldest TV society in the world and is chaired by David Liddiment.

Two judges awards were dished out also, one for Channel 4's coverage of the London Paraylmpics 2012 and one to Danny Boyle, for masterminding the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

Full winners:

Actor (Female)

Olivia Colman - Accused II RSJ Films for BBC One

Actor (Male)

Sean Bean- Accused II RSJ Films for BBC One

Arts

Lucian Freud: Painted Life Blakeway for BBC Two

Children's Drama

Wolfblood CBBC Productions for CBBC

Children's Program

Room on the Broom Magic Lights Pictures for BBC Two

Comedy Performance

Jessica Hynes- Twenty Twelve (Series 2) BBC Productions for BBC Two

Daytime Program

Remembrance Week Fever Media for BBC One

Documentary Series

Protecting Our Children BBC Productions for BBC Two

Drama Serial

Good Cop BBC Productions for BBC One

Drama Series

Sherlock Hartswood Films for BBC Wales in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

Entertainment

CelebrityJuice Talkback Production Company for ITV2

Entertainment Performance

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! ITV Studios for ITV

History

The Secret History of Our Streets Century Films and Halcyons for BBC Two

International

Girls HBO for Sky Atlantic HD

Live Event

Olympics 2012 BBC Productions for BBC

Nations and Regions Program

The Bank Of Dave (Episode 1) Finestripe Productions for Channel 4

Popular Factual and Features

Long Lost Family(Series 2) Wall to Wall Media for ITV

Presenter

Clare Balding- The Olympics BBC Productions for BBC

Science and Natural History

Operation Iceberg BBC Productions for BBC Two

Scripted Comedy

Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of my Life Baby Cow for Sky Atlantic HD

Single Documentary

7/7: One Day in London Minnow Films for BBC Two

Single Drama

The Hollow Crown: Richard II Neal Street Productions for BBC Two

Soap and Continuing Drama

Coronation Street ITV Studios for ITV

Writer - Comedy

Writing Team - The Thick of It (Series 4) BBC Productions for BBC Two

Writer - Drama

Steven Moffat- Sherlock Hartswood Films for BBC Wales in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One